2007 First Drive Home: Impression

Hi Guys:

Just a lurker...got my '07 Barcelona Red this evening (Pkg 5). Awaiting Katzkin leather.

Clearwater (Fla) Toyota folks were gushing and drooling. It was 32 miles back home 50/50 hiway & lites. Bagged 57.4 MPG with the crudest of throttle techniques and highway cruise at 59-63 mph. Got a Scangaugell ($169) and when I install it on Saturday I'm guessing I'll invoke the RPM/Manifold Pressure/MPG/Engine load (It's really Brake Mean Effective Pressure[ BMEP]) as preferred display. However, Hobbit's RPM may be all I need to keep the ICE at its sweet spot once at cruise. I found it similar to sailboat racing...

The boat gets going and as one develops the feel of waves and other conditions, it goes a bit faster. Pretty soon the boat is humming and no one can remember how it happened. It's like the boat's speed and car's mpg efficiency emerge...but only when you speak softly and treat her very nicely.

I found it difficult to achieve an uncoupled (ICE and Regen) coast or "Stealth" mode. To me it was either ICE OR Regen with very little throttle movement between but in the hour the drive took that impression was only the roughest observation. Even with my timidness I found that a smooth accelleration then full backoff of the throttle then a VERY smooth and feather light throttle advance seemed to get the tranny where it wanted to be in high BMEP condition. However, instruments will clearly make this easier.

The brakes gave a HINK of squeek. You had to listen for it.

The car looks good and drives more solidly than casual reading here would suggest. The tires at 42/40 lbs. gave no hard ride whatsoever. I came from a 2nd car Miata so I know what a hard ride is all about. I MAY get the GY Comfortreds for my long California trip (Mainly for some snow security) in Nov but I detect VERY little road noise from the GY Integrity brand (I expected much more). The seats are upright, comfortable and of course the headroom is basketball player compliant. The sound system is pretty good and i'm an iPOD guy with a music good library to enjoy across the country.

The storage UNDER the floor in the back was a pleasant surprise. Wifee and I can pack all the winter clothes we need down there on this trip.

In another life I was a 4k hour flight instructor and my son-in-law is a newbie pilot this year. He's still not convinced about the Prius, imagining the mileage is mostly hype and "BTW gas is getting cheap again".

I called him this eveing and told him my initial results and that he might not be able to HANDLE the throttle management/transmission feel skills to get optimum BMEP (Engine load) so he'd probably be better off sticking with his VW Passat.

According to my daughter, after the call he RAN out the door to the Toyota dealer.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TJandGENESIS @ Oct 12 2006, 03:07 AM) [snapback]331605[/snapback]</div>

Yup!

The Son-In-Law is greenie with Champagne tastes. He is just coming around to the idea of stop and go not hurting...but for now it's only an IDEA.

He's squirming to get a Prius now.

I'll spring the 94 MPG for 2008 model(s) a bit later.

chaio